Is there a Link between Singulair and Depression?

SINGULAIR is a prescription medicine approved to help control symptoms of asthma in adults and children 12 months and older and for relief of symptoms of indoor and outdoor allergies (outdoor allergies in adults and children as young as 2 years and indoor allergies in adults and children as young as 6 months).On March 27, 2008 the FDA issued a safety alert regarding the asthma medication Singulair (montelukast). The alert was issued in order to inform healthcare professionals and patients about the agency's investigation into the possible link between Singulair use and depression and suicidality.During clinical trials, depression was not reported...

Remember, Suicide is Never Painless!!!

Guns aren't lawful; Nooses Give;Gas smells awful;You might as well live.Dorothy Parker 1893-1967: 'Resume' (1937) Whatever that haunting song from M*A*S*H may have claimed, suicide is not painless. The topic of suicide seems particularly gruesome or morbid, because it is meant to be. Suicide is not a fool-proof or painless proposition. The fact is that suicides fail and even when they succeed, it may not be at all like what you had imagined. Even the Best Planned Suicide Can FailThe New England Journal of Medicine (Feb 22, 2001, Vol. 344, No. 8) dealing with physician assisted suicide shows that even with expert medical advice,...

Theories on Morality of Suicide (Part 2: Modern Approaches)

The Deontological Argument from the Sanctity of LifeThe simplest moral outlook on suicide holds that it is necessarily wrong because human life is sacred. Though this position is often associated with religious thinkers, especially Catholics, we find similar positions in Kant and in Ronald Dworkin. According to this ‘sanctity of life’ view, human life is inherently valuable and precious, demanding respect from others and reverence for oneself. Hence, suicide is wrong because it violates our moral duty to honor the inherent value of human life, regardless of the value of that life to others or to the person whose life it is. The sanctity of life...

Novo Vitae Basic Depression Test

This is a basic depression test that helps to identify key symptoms of clinical depression. In order for this depression test to be effective, answer the following questions honestly. Answer 'yes' to each question if your symptoms have been present most days, for at least two weeks. It should only take a few minuets to fully complete this depression test.  In the last two weeks have you... Been down or in a depressed mood?YESNO2. Experienced a noticeable lack of enjoyment of activities that use to be fun or pleasurable?YES  NO3. Gained a substantial amount of weight?YESNO4. Had any unusual aches or pains that are...

Theories on Morality of Suicide (Part 1: Ancient and Classic Approaches)

Moral PermissibilityThe principal moral issue surrounding suicide has beenAre there conditions under which suicide is morally justified, and if so, which conditions?Several important historical answers to (1) have already been mentioned.Note that this question should be distinguished from three others:Should other individuals attempt to prevent suicide?Should the state criminalize suicide or attempt to prevent it?Is suicide ever rational or prudent?Obviously, answers to any one of these four questions will bear on how the other three ought to be answered. For instance, it might be assumed that if suicide is morally permissible...

Psychological Theories of Suicide

Emile Durkhem TheoryDurkheim performed a classic study of suicide and published his conclusions in 1897 on the following reasons of the suicide:Egoistic-Not enough Integration. Due to a looser social network or belief system. For example Protestants are more likely to commit suicide than Catholics because the belief system is not as tight.Anomic-Not enough regulation. Society doesn't have enough control over individuals. Often in periods of economic depression does this occur. Because of such change people find it very hard to adapt.Altruistic-Too much integration. The person sacrifices their life for the benefit...

Why People Commit Suicide?

“Suicide is not a disease. It is an expression of a host of emotions, hopelessness, guilt,  sorrow, loneliness, rage, fear, shame, that have their root in psychological, social, medical and biochemical factors” (Psychological Society of Ireland 1992).Many psychologists, sociologists, and medical doctors have tried to answer the question of why people kill themselves. To summarize them in three words: to stop pain. Sometimes this pain is physical, as in chronic or terminal illness; more often it is emotional, caused by a myriad of problems. In any case, suicide is not a random or senseless act, but an effective, if extreme, solution. A slightly...